Ink fountain safety means



Nov. 11, 1941. E. F. DUDLEY INK FOUNTAIN SAFETY MEANS I Q INVENTOR. IQQZJQ/KZFJJZQZJ,

2 Sheets-Sheet l F'i-led Dec. 18, 1940 Nov. 11, 1941. E. F. DUDLEY INK FOUNTAIN SAFETY MEANS Filed Dec. 18, 1940 lZzZ/a/ZZ 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENT OR.

Patented Nov. 11, 1941 UNlTE-D STATES PATENT ICE 3 2,261,981 INK 'FOUNTADT SAFETY MEANS Edward F. Dudley, Oak Park, 111., assignor to The Miehle Printing Press & Manufacturing CompallyyChicago, 111., a'corporation of Illinois Application December 18, 1940,,Serial No. 370,619

5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in inking mechanism for printing presses and, it more specifically pertains to that class of inking devices in which the ink fountain is arranged to be swung out from its operative, i. e. its closed position, for the purpose of washing up the inking rollers and associated parts, or for performing any other operation where accessibility to the inking roller system is required.

In a well known type of printing press, in which the ink fountain is pivoted to the press frame so that it can be swung out in a horizontal plane, the distributing rollers are arranged on a hinged mounting, commonly termed the distributing roller frame, capable of being swung down with the rollers in order to disengage them from the ink distributing table with which they are associated for the purpose of effecting distribution of the ink prior to its being applied to the printing form..

According to the arrangement referred to, when the roller frame is swung down, one of the distributing rollers, which are provided with a composition covering, becomes exposed and will be located in a position which is substantially in the same horizontal plane as the ink fountain. Consequently, if the operator attempts to close the fountain and neglects to first swing the roller frame with its rollers back into cooperative relation with the ink distributing table, the fountain swings into the exposed distributing roller, thereby damaging the roller, usually to such an extent that it must be replaced which incurs considerable expense and loss of time.

Therefore, the primary object of my invention resides in the provision of dependable means whereby the ink fountain cannot be swung back into its operative position so long as the distributing roller frame and its rollers thereon remain swung out of their operative position.

Another object of my invention is to provide means which shall constitute a safety lock reliable in its operation to positively prevent the ink fountain from any inward movement while the distributing roller frame is swung down.

Other objects of my invention shall be apparent from the following description and appended claims read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 represents in fragmentary side elevation the ink fountain and associated distributing roller unit in connection with which I have illustrated my invention, the parts being shown in their relative operative positions;

Figure 2 depicts a similar side elevation but sition and with the distributing rollers .swung,

down into their inoperative position;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the ink fountain and distributing rollers in their positions shown in Figure 2, and, I

Figure 4 is a detail sectional View, taken along line IV-IV of Figure 3; of the interlocking members provided on the fountain and on the dis-' tributing roller frame.

Referring more specifically to Figure 1 of said drawings, I have illustrated the position of the ink fountain and its associated distributing rollers assumed when the press is in operation, i. e. when the fountain is closed and the associated ink distributing rollers arein their operative positions. In the preferred arrangement shown,

the press frame I0 is formed with a projecting arm and lug II; this arm carries a pivot stud l2 about which the fountainframe l3 can be swung in a horizontal plane in order to open and close it when the press is being made ready. The frame I0 also pivotallysupports a distributing roller frame I4 on which are mounted for rotation the distributing rollers l5 and Hi. This pivotal mounting permits of a downward swing of the frame, together with its rollers, about the shaft I! which is supported at each end on the press frame I0. Arms [8, which carry a vibrating roller I9, are also arranged adjacent each end of the shaft I! to swing about itsaxis and downwardly into a position illustrated in Figure 2 in which the distributing rollers l5 and I6 are exposed in order to be rendered accessible for the purpose of washing up the inking mechanism. Preferably, and as illustrated and described in my earlier Patent No. 1,582,514, issued April 27, 1926, the vibrating roller I9, when in its lowered position, as depicted in Figure 2, is permitted to drop somewhat lower than the distributing rollers I5 and [6 so that it shall become completely separated from said rollers for the purpose set forth in said patent.

The ductor roller 20, as shown in Figure l, is

carried by arms 2| provided at each end of the fountain frame l3 and may be actuated in any conventional manner so as to oscillate intermittently into contact with the vibrating roller I9 and the ink fountain roller I5 to carry a supply of ink from the latter to the roller I9. The ink is then transferred to the distributing rollers I5 and I6 for distribution prior to being applied to the printing form.

It will be seen that, in the position shown in Figure 2, where the distributing rollers are swung with the fountain swung out into its open po- 5 down, one of said rollers, namely I5, is located substantially in the same horizontal plane as the ink fountain. Consequently, should the operator attempt to swing the fountain inwardly and neglect to previously move the distributing roller frame I4 back into its operative position, the fountain or part of its frame will be forced into the composition covering of the distributing roller l5, thereby damaging the roller to an extent that it must be replaced.

In order to avoid such incidents, I have conceived means whereby, so long as the bracket I4 with its rollers remains in the position shown in Figure 2, namely in its inoperative position, the fountain cannot be closed.

This I accomplish by th provision of interlocking notches 23 and 24, the former of which is provided at the free end of the distributing roller frame l4, whereas the latter is formed on the fountain frame l3. The interlocked position of said notches is indicated in Figures 2 and 3, the latter figure showing the relative position of the fountain frame and of the distributing roller frame in plan view.

In Figur 4, the notches 23 and 24 are shown in detail in cross-section so as to illustrate more clearly their interlocking relation. 1

It shall-be understood that, while I have illus trated and described one preferred means whereby the principle of my invention may be accomplished, it is my intention to cover any such constructional variations that will come within the meaning and essence of the appended claims.

- I claim! I 1. In aninking mechanism for printing presses of the class having an ink fountain adapted to be swung out of its closed position, ink distributing rollers, and a movable frame which carries said rollers and which is arranged to be swung into an inoperative position together with said rollers, the provision of novel means operative to prevent closing of said fountain so long as said frame is maintained in its inoperative position.

2. In an inking mechanism for printing presses of the class having an ink fountain adapted to be swung in a horizontal plane out of its closed position, and ink distributing rollers mounted on a frame arranged to be swung down into an inoperative position together with said rollers, the provision of novel means operative so long as said frame remains swung down in its inoperative position, to prevent said fountain from being swung inwardly to close it.

3. In an inking mechanism for printing presses of the class having an ink fountain adapted to be swung out of its closed position, ink distribuuting rollers, and a movable frame which carries said rollers and which is arranged to be swung into an inoperative position together with said rollers, the provision of novel means including interengaging locking members provided on said ink fountain and. on said frame and operative to prevent closing of said fountain so long as said frame is maintained in its inoperative position.

4. 'In an inking mechanism for printing presses of theclass having an ink fountain adapted to be swung in a horizontal plane out of its closed position, and ink distributing rollers, mounted on a movable frame arranged to be swung down into an inoperativ position together with said rollers, the provision of novel means including interengaging locking members provided on said ink fountain and on said frame and operative so long as said frame remains swung down in its inoperative position, to prevent said fountain from being swung inwardly to close it.

5. In an inking mechanism of the class set forth, the combination of an ink fountain, a hinged mounting for said fountain, ink distributing rollers carried by a pivoted frame, said mounting and frame permitting of moving said fountain and said rollers out of their operative positions, and interlocking means associated withsaid mounting and frame and operative to positively prevent movement of said fountain into its'operative position so long as said rollers remain out of their operative position.

- EDWARD F. DUDLEY. 

